Director Max Ophüls's visually stunning drama recounts the true story of the scandalous life of dancer -- and courtesan -- Lola Montes (Martine Carol). Past her prime, Montes lands in a 19th-century circus in Vienna, Austria, where the slimy ringmaster (Peter Ustinov) exploits her by forcing her to tell her tale. Flashbacks reveal her many affairs, most notably with composer Franz Liszt (Will Quadflieg) and Bavarian King Ludwig (Anton Walbrook).